The EU-spec standard pig price fell by close to a penny to stand at 215.05p/kg during the week ended December 9, the National Pig Association (NPA) has said.
The 0.94p fall was the ninth consecutive weekly reversal and the biggest weekly drop since early November.
The standard pig price (SPP) has now fallen for 15 out of the last 16 weeks, losing 10.6p since mid-August and more than 2p over the past three weeks. It remains 15p ahead of a year ago.
The all pig price (APP), which includes premium pigs, fell by 2.11p, during the week ended December 2 to stand at 213.99p/kg.
“The gap to the SPP widened significantly to exactly 2p, having narrowed in recent weeks,” the NPA said.
“Falling EU prices, along with weakening domestic demand for pork since the summer, have been driving UK prices downwards.
“Having stabilised and even inched up during November, the EU reference price dropped back by 1.15p to 184.05p/kg during the week ended December 3. This compared with a high of 215p/kg in mid-July.”
The NPA said the gap to the UK reference price has widened again to 29p and that imports remain “very competitive”.
Slaughterings and feed wheat
Estimated GB slaughterings remain above autumn levels as Christmas approaches, the NPA said.
“The figure for the week ended December 9 was 1,600 down on the previous weeks, at 175,014 head, but this was 32,000 down on a year ago.
“Carcase weights continue to fall. After hitting the highest average this year in early November, at just over 91kg, average carcase weights dropped to 88.21kg during the week ended December 9.
“The average is now just 0.4kg ahead of the equivalent week a year ago.”
London feed wheat was quoted by the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) on Wednesday (December 13) at around £184/t for January.
This is unchanged on a week ago, but was £23 higher for November 2023.
